PUPILS who ride bikes or walk to Hanley Castle High School, near Upton, can now get to school in safety thanks to a new cyclepath and footway.

The new path, the result of several years' campaigning by parents and Hanley Castle Parish Council, means pupils no longer have to cycle on or cross the busy B4211.

At a short ceremony, the ribbon was cut by local resident Mrs Dorothy Bowen, as Hanley Castle pupils looked on.

The campaign was backed by county councillor Tom Wells who used the members' led highways fund to pay for it.

Cllr Wells said: "It's the first step of a wider strategy to encourage children to cycle to school and without this investment we would be concerned about pupil safety. I very much welcome the fact that this is now under way."

In later phases, it is hoped to extend the path to Hanley Swan.

Parish councillor Sue Adeney said: “No pupil cycling to school need make dangerous right turns across traffic any more. Safety has been the priority here but we have ended up with an improved footway for pedestrians as well as cyclists. It's a good result which we hope will be much used."